OT: First week of turkey season somewhat a disaster..

[bigbore442001]

To say the least, we didn't get any birds. I hunted thursday with Dad in our usual spots and saw nothing huntable. Two hens and that was it. This is unusual. We usually will hear some birds. We hunted a few spots and got zilch.

Friday was a day of rest so to speak. I was tired and it rained so it was a bum in day.

Saturday, Dad and I went out to an abandoned farm that is now owned by the state. We found a way to drive up to it and did so while in the dark. We parked a bit aways from it and walked to the abandoned barn. This thing makes an excellent blind. I spotted a couple of birds the other day from here and figured it would be a good set up. Not only that but last year I shot a bird from this area. Sooo ... we set up the decoy and sat at the end inside.

I'd make a call every twenty minutes or so. Basically it was all in vain. Nothing showed up except two other hunters. They drove up this small road where I was parked and they all turned around after I waved at them . In essense they ruined our hunt. They didn't have the common sense or courtesy to turn around away from our spot after seeing my truck parked in plain sight. Nope. They had to turn around where we were set up to hunt. Needless to say I am not a happy man about this.

It was mid morning and we decided to leave. This place must have been hammered and harassed for the first week of the season. We drove around to other sites but no luck. Dad wanted to check out a small peice of land that according to the map is open to hunting. The unfortunate thing is that it is ringed by McMansions. We also noticed that there are No Hunting -Safety Zone signs around it. I plan to contact the state about this. This land has access to the road and is supposed to be open to hunting. Sure enough, there were two big jakes on the lawn of the McMansion. That illustrates a big problem with turkey hunting in Massachusetts. Many birds are now flocking around large homes with bird feeders. Why work for your meal when it is given free?

Anyways. Today is Sunday and no hunting in the Bay State. Tommorrow I plan to hunt for an hour before work with the bow in my friends back yard. I have had birds come by but not close enough for an ethical bow shot.

Then the next three days will be spent in the city of Springfield undergoing therapeutic community training. It is required by all who work at our place. At least I have until the 24th to get my spring birds.

[BenT]

Last week it was snowing or 35 degrres and raining. Sounds to me like you had a better hunt.

[Old Time Hunter]

BenT, I'm with you...30-40MPH gusts, snow blowing sideways, that was my Turkey hunt last weekend in Amberg.

[Kismet]

Same up here in NH. I sat out in the rain for a few hours each of the last two mornings and heard/saw nothing. At least this morning I imagined hearing more birds than yesterday.

Michael in NH

[tman]

i'm heading to the mountains in the morning. have to be out of the woods by 11am , here it penna. guess i'll have to drowned a few redworms in the pursuit of trout after that. love this time of year.

[BenT]

Tman , Wisconsin used to have to be out of the woods by noon. Turkey hunt in the morning , trout fish in the afternoon.

[Hobie]

What the heck is "therapeutic community training"?